A Quality of Life Study in Patients with Leprosy Using DLQI and WHOQOL-BREF Questionnaires

India accounts for 60% of the global leprosy burden. Deformities lead to a negative impact on the quality of life (QoL). There is a paucity of Indian studies evaluating the QoL in patients with leprosy.

This study was undertaken to assess QoL in leprosy patients with two different questionnaires, correlate QoL with demographic and clinical profile and evaluate the impact on health-related QoL scores.

A cross-sectional study to evaluate the QoL was conducted in the dermatology OPD of a tertiary center in Maharashtra, India.

Demographic and clinical profile along with evaluation of QoL using DLQI and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaires was conducted in 60 leprosy patients.

Parametric test, R test, Chi-square test, Z test, Student's t-test (t), and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) were used.

The mean DLQI score was 8.4 ± 4.4 and 40% of patients had moderate impact on QoL, and the mean WHOQOL-BREF score was 3.13 ± 0.9. The demographic profile, type of leprosy and reactions did not have a statistically significant correlation with DLQI. Presence of deformity had significant impact on DLQI and a statistically significant impact on physical, psychological, and environmental domain in WHOQOL-BREF analysis.

Deformities have a profound impact on QoL in leprosy patients on evaluation with DLQI and WHOQOL- BREF questionnaires. The social domain was least affected, whereas severe impact was noted in psychological domain. DLQI is a practical and simple questionnaire, whereas WHOQOL- BREF provides a comprehensive approach on all domains.